Stencil-printing machine



J. O'CONNOR.

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. [919 Patented Nov. 30

3 SHEETS--SHIEETv I.

'Inven tor James 0 Tanner hisAttarney.

I. OCONNOR.-

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men MAR. 29. 1919.

Patented Nov. 30, 192 0.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inventor:

A @mwcm W hisAtformy.

J. O'CONNOR. STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONHLED MAR. 29. 1919.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920. 6

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I nv enter James OConnor by hisAztorney.

JAMES OCONNOR, OF NEW YORK,N. Y.

OFFICE.

STENCIL-PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters latent. -Patented N 30 1920 1 Application filed. March 29, 1919. Serial No. 2 ,120.

T all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, JAMns OCoNNoR, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of PNew York, have invented certain new and useful p Improvements in Stencil-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to stencil printing machines and particularly tosuch machines of that class as employ a stencil of relatively great length as compared to width.

The object of my improvements is=to-provide a machine of the class specified, largely automatic in action and which can be operated at high speed and thereby produce a greater quantity of product than ispossible 111 any machine heretofore knownto me,

With these ends inview my improvements comprise features illustrated'i'n their preferred embodiment in the drawings accompanying this specification, wherein Figure 1 1S a front elevation of a stencil printing machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding therewith. Fig. 3 is an end elevationlook ing from the left hand of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. dis a fragmentary elevation with the motor removed, looking in the direction of arrow 1 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical lengthwise section of the ink reservoir. Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are toone scale,.and Fig. 5 is to another and larger scale.

As illustrated, my improvanents are embodied in a machine for printing the words of a song along one edge of a perforated note sheet, such as is commonly used in player pianos.

five feet more or less in length. Along one edge of said note sheet there is or maybe an unperforated space from two to three inches wide on which may be printed the words of the-song, the notes of which are represented by the perforations in the sheet.

To print these words of the song on this edge space of the note sheet, a stencil from two-to: three inches wide is commonly'employedand said stencil is as long as, or preferably somewhat longer than, the note sheet, so that the ends of thestencil may be secured at each end thereof to the operating table beyond the respective ends of the note sheet and drawn taut over saidsheet. It has been common practice heretofore to employ a hand roller charged with ink, to print Such note sheets are commonly about eleven lnches wide and twentythrough the stencil onto the note sheet. By-

my improved mechanism this heretofore hand operation of printing. is done mechanically and automatically, including the-sup plying of ink to the roller. i

eferrmg now to the drawings herein,

table '8, of sufficient width and length 130210 commodate the longest note sheets, as 9, and] of sufficient additional length to provide.

room for the overlying ends of the stencil 10 and forfastening means 11 therefor,- may be conveniently supported on legs, as '12. Preferably lengthwise rails 13 and 14 are fixed to the table, between which a quantity.-

of note sheets are placed, one'above an-. other. Rail 13 is preferably near the front edge 8 of the table and the stencil is disposed closely adjacent said rail, lying against the face of the upper note sheet of the pile. It will be understood that the note sheets may be placed on the table one at a time if desired, but the progress of the work is facilitated-by placing a dozenor more on the table at one time and then removing the upper sheet after printing, when the one below is-in position for printing andmay,

in its turn, also be removed after printing.

The stencil end-fastening means may comprise a clamp bar 11 having clamp screws 15, 15 passing therethrough and threaded into the table.

Adjoining front edge 8 of table ",8 but preferably somewhat lower than saidtable isshelf 16, which may be conveniently supported from; legs 12 by brackets as 17. Said shelf 16 is lengthwise substantially coextensive with said table and carries rails 18,

18, which constitute a track on which wheeledcarriage 19 is adapted to traverse in lengthwise parallelism with the table. On said carriage is mounted motor 20 which may be electrically driven from some source of power not shown. Said motor is; pro: vided' with means, such as wedges 21, 22, for adjusting ittowardand from said carriage. Shaft 23 of motor 20 has fixed thereto ink roller 21 located at such a distance outwardly on said shaft asto position said roller directly over stencil 10. height of the motor and the diameter of roller 24.- are such as to normally bring the underface of said roller into contact with stencil 10. Said roller 24 is preferably in the form of a more or less stiff cylindrical Also the v brush with radiating bristles, so that it has 1 a somewhat yielding engagement with the stencil. The frictional contact of this brush roller with the stencil, when said roller is rotated by the motor, is efficient to cause carriage 19 to travel lengthwise the table on rails 18, 18. Thus if carriage 19 is located at the left hand end of the table, as in Fig. l, and the motor started rotating in clockwise direction in that figure, the carriage will travel automatically to the other end of the table, from where, if the motor is then reversed, the carriage will travel back again to its starting point. For automatically stopping the motor when it reaches the end of its desired travel, a reversing knife switch may be used. Said switch is mounted on base 29 of motor 20 and lever 25 thereof, when in mid-position, is idle and sup plies no current to the motor. \Vhen thrown to the right, as in Fig. 2, into engagement with contacts 26, the motor will be caused to rotate to the right as above described. lVhen thrown to the left into engagementwith contacts 27, the motor will be caused to rotate in the opposite direction. Near each end of shelf 16 is secured an adjustable throw-out post 28 with which said lever 25 engages and by which said lever is moved from its state of engagement with either pair of contacts 26 or 27, as the case may be,

to idle position. It will be understood that said lever and contacts are suitably wired in connection with the motor and source of electric energy, not shown, to supply current as described, all as well known in the art. For limiting more accurately the opposite ends of the travel of motor 20, opposite adjustable spring supported abutments as 58, may be provided.

For supplying ink to brush roller 24, I provide mechanism mounted on bracket 30 secured to motor base 29. This mechanism comprises cylindrical ink fountain 31, and distributer roll 32 between and in contact with brush roller 24 and fountain 31. Roll 32 is rotated by contact with roller 24 and ink fountain 31 is rotated by contact with roll 32. Fountain 31 and roll 32 areaxially mounted in frame upstanding from bracket 30. Fountain 31 is free to rotate in U-shaped bearings 34, 35 in frame 33 but is constrained against endwise movement therein. Roll 32 is free to rotate on' shaft 46 fixed in bearings 36, 37, depending from bearings 34, 35, respectively, and is also free, under control, to traverse axially on said shaft. Axial movement is imparted to roll 32 by the following means: Motor shaft 23 has enlarged portion 38 threaded for e? gagement with worm gear 39 pivoted on bracket 30. Said worm gear carries eccen tric pin 40 working in slot 42 of arm 41 pivotally mounted at 43 at its outer end on bracket 30. The opposite end of arm 41 has fixed therein pin 44, having the upper end thereof between and in engagement with flanges 45, 45 fixed to roll 32. The revolution of eccentric pin 40 in its circular path causes arm 41 to oscillate on its pivot 43 and pin 44 thereof, traveling back and forth in an arc of a circle, causes roil 32 to traverse back and forth in the line of its axis relatively to fountain 31 and brush roller 24. For causing fountain 31 to discharge ink periodically through perforations 47 in its cylindrical face, thefollowing means are provided: Said fountain is a hollow cylinder with removable head 48. Said head has threaded therethrough spindle 49 for pushing inwardly follower 50, the inward move ment of said follower causing the ink 51 to exude through perforations 47. For caus ing periodic, rotative movement of spindle 49 to thus push inwardly follower 50, said spindle is provided at its outer end with wheel 52 havinga plurality of short arms 53 radiating therefrom. Shaft 54 at the other end of fountain 31 is similarly provided with armed wheel 55. For causing these two wheels 52, 55 to rotate automatically through a small arc of a circle relativelyto each other at each end of the travel of carriage l9, adjustable blades 56, 57, suitably sup ported from table 8, are provided at each end of said table.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: Stencil 10 being drawn taut in place and its ends secured in clamps 11, a plurality of note sheets 9 are slipped thereunder between rails 13 and 14 and the perforations thereof brought into register lengthwise with the word perforations in said stencil. )arriage 19 having been previousiy located at one end of its run, as for instance at the left hand of Figs. 1 and 2, and ink having been forced out from holes 47 in ink fountain 31 and delivered by traverse roll 32 to roller24, switch 25 is pushed to the right into engagement with contacts 26 whereby motor shaft 23 is started rotating in clockwise direction, Fig. l. The engagement of roller 24 with stencil 10 will cause that roller to creep to the right, Fig. 1, along the'face of said stencil, thereby moving carriage 19 with it, and as said roller passes over the perforation in the stencil, ink from said roller will be forced through said perforations onto the topmost note sheet below. Carriage 19 will continue its travel toward the end of its track and until switch 25 en gages post 28 near the right hand end of the machine, when said switch will be thrown to idle position, midway between contacts 26 and contacts 27, said carriage simultaneously running against bumper 58 by which it will be brought to a state of rest. During the travel of carriage 19 lengthwise the table, worm 38 on shaft 23 will rotate worm-gear 39 and, through eccentric pin 40 fraction of a turn,thus forcing'inwardly follower 50, thereby causing a portion ofmk to exude from holes if 1n fountam 31 for conveyance, during the return travel of the carriage, to roller 24.-

Garriage 19 having now completedits run to the right and roller 24: having delivered ink through all the stencil perforations onto the top note sheet, said note sheet is withdrawn from the pile of note sheets and the sheet next below is exposed for printing. Switch 25 is then thrown to the left into engagement with contacts 27 which action starts motor shaft 23 rotating in anti-clockwise direction Fig. 1, whereby roller 24 again engages stencil l0 and said roller and carriage start on their return movement toward the left. When carriage '19 nears the lef hand end of its travel, -switch 25 engages left hand post 28 and said switch is again thrown to idle position between contacts 26 and contacts 27, and said carriage engages left hand bumper 58 and again comes to a state of rest. The second note sheet may then be removed and the operation proceed as described. From time to time as the pile of note sheets diminishes in thickness, roller 24: may be moved downwardly for continued engagement with the stencil by shifting adjusting wedge 22 to the right, Fig. 1.

I claim: 7

1. I11 a stencil printing machine,the combination of means for supporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therewith a stencil, a track adjacent and parallel to said note sheet, a carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said track, a rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage, means for rotating said shaft, and an ink roller carried by said shaft and positioned and adapted for engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said carriage to travel on said track when said shaft is rotated.

2. In a stencil printing machine the combination of means for supporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therewith a stencil, a track adjacent and parallel to said note sheet, a carriage adapted to travel back and; forth on said track, a motor mounted on said carriage and havinga rotatable shaft, and an ink roller carried by said shaft and positioned and adapted for engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said motor and carriage to travel on said track when the motor rotates said shaft and roller.

3. In a stencil printing machine the combination of means for supporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therew th a stencil, a track ad acent and parallel tO SEL1Cl note. sheet, a carriage adaptedlto travel back and forth on said track, 5 a" rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage, means for rotating said shaft, an

ink roller carried by said shaft and posif tioned ana adapted for engaging said stencil and ifor thereby. causing said carriage to travel on saidtrack when said shaft is ro tated, and means for adjusting said roller toward and front the stencil.

I. In astencil printing machine the combinationof means forsupporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therewith a stencil, a track adjacent and parallel to said note sheet, a carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said track, a motor mounted on said carriage and having a rotatable shaft, an ink roller carried by said shaft and positioned and adapted for engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said motor and carriage to travel on said track when the motor rotates said shaft and roller, means for adjusting said roller toward and from the stencil, means for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor, and means at each end of the travel of the motor for cutting off the power from said motor.

5. In a stencil printing machine the combination of means for supporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therewith a stencil, a track adjacent and parallel to said note sheet, a carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said.

track, a rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage, means for. rotating said shaft, an ink roller carried by said shaft and positioned and adapted for engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said carriage to travel on said track when said shaft is rotated,

and parallel to said note sheet, a carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said track, a rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage, means for rotating said shaft, an

ink roller carried by said shaft and positioned and adapted for engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said carriage to travel on said track when said shaft is rotated, and automatic means for-periodically supplying ink to said roller.

7 In a stencil printing machine the combination of means for supporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therewith a stencil, a track adj acent and parallel to said note sheet, a carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said track, a rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage, means for rotating said shaft, an ink roller carried by said shaft and posiioned and adapted for engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said carriage to travel on said track when said shaft isrotated, an ink fountain for supplying ink to said roller, and an automatically reciprocating roll between said ink fountain and roller for conveying ink from said fountain and distributing it onto said roller.

8. In a stencil printing machine the combin-ation of means for supporting a note sheet, means for holding thereover and in contact therewith a stencil, a track adjacent and. parallel to said note sheet, ill carriage adapted to travel back and forth on said track, a rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage, means for rotating said shaft, an ink roller carried by said shaft and positioned and adaptedfor engaging said stencil and for thereby causing said carriage to travel on said track when said shaft is rotated, a rotatable ink fountain for supplying ink to said roller, a roll between and in engagement with the ink fountain and roller, and automatic means governed by the rotation of said roller for reciprocating said roll.

In Witness whereof, I hereby afiix my signature this 26th day of March, 1919.

i JAMES OCONNOR. 

